Catharine g



(No Model.)

f I G. G. FOUTE.

STOGKING SUPPORTBR.

Patented May 9, 1882.

. l if .M JIP.

UNITED STATES" PATENT @rereaf CATHARINE e. roors, or New YORK, N. Y.

sTocKlNe-SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,485, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed March 30, 1882. (No model.)

. whichdm Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved supporter complete; and Fig. 2 is a similar view, (reduced in size,) showing a modification in the construction.

My invention relates to that class of supporters in which the stockings are suspended from the shoulders instead of from the waist, or by the usual garters, and has for its object to provide for all necessary movements of the upper part of the body without drawing unduly upon the tops of the stockings, to support the weight of the stockings and the tension of the sustainingstraps upon the shoulders, and also to permit changes in the relative position of the straps going over the shoulders without drawing up the stockings.

The invention consists in a novel arrangement of straps passing over the shoulders and crossing each other upon the back, with a single and preferably narrower band or strap secured by its two ends to the respective ends of the former upon each side of the body, in such manner as to form practically an endless strap, as will be explained.

In the accompanying drawings, A and A' are the two upper and preferably wider straps or bandsof webbing, which are united at C, at a point upon the back between the shoulders. D and D' are the crossstraps, uniting the straps or bands A and A' at the sides. rlhey are shown as stitched to the bands A A', but may be looped around them, if preferred, so as to adapt them to slide freely up anddown.

B and B' a re two preferably lnarrower straps or bauds of webbing, that are each passed through'rings E and E', respectively, and seA cured by their ends to the ends of A and A'. They are preferably removably attached b y safety-pins or buckles g g, as shown, with their ends adjustable therein.

E and E' are rings, to which are attached the pieces or straps f and f', provided with clasps, buttons, or other suitable fastening devices, adapting them to be attached at their ends to the stockings. y

It will be seen that the two straps A aud A', with their connecting-straps B and B', form practically an endless strap that can pass back and forth to a limited extent through the rings E and E', yet not in any way disturb the ten sion ofthe strapsff', that support the stockings.

It frequently happens that shoulder-straps are slipped out of place by the movements of the body, and are then `held out by the superimposed clothing. This change in the position with the usual shouldersstraps forsupporb ing the stockings throws too great a strain upon the latter, and renders the wearer uncomfortable.

l am well aware that stockings have been I supported from the shoulders; but in all such supporters, so far as they have come to my knowledge, any change of position ot' the shoulderstraps results in changing ,the ten sion upon the stocking-straps proper, whilein my device the endless belt forming the shout der-straps may change position several inches, and as it slips freely through the rings E E' no change will be lnade in the tension upon the stockings.

The straps A and A' need not cross each other, but they may be separated, forming two endless straps, one for each shoulder, and each provided with aring, E or E', in. which itcan slide, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Any or all of the straps may be made ot' material more'A or less elastic, as may be preferred. Y y

Having now described my invention, I claim as new-- 1. The slioulderstraps A A', combined with the straps B B', to the ends ot' which they are united, forming practically an endless strap, and with the rings E E', supporting the straps to be fastened to the stockings.

2. The combination ot' the shoulder-straps A A' and straps B B', forming practically an endless strap, adjustable in length by fastening devices g, sliding rings -E E', and straps*l ff', connected 'therewth, substantiallyaside?" scribed. i l y f 3. The'sh'oulder-strapsA A', in combination 5 with the straps B B', forming practically an eudlessstrap, connecting-straps D D",s lidii` 1gA rings E E', and strapsff f1', subst'antialiyas and'for the purpose described. 

